Central Michigan University Athletics
Thursday, December 5
Vermillion, S.D.
8 p.m.
Central Michigan University
at
South Dakota
Fourth-year coach Mike Gawlik leads the Chippewa volleyball program into the postseason for just the second time in program history on Thursday.
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Volleyball Faces Strong South Dakota Team In NIVC Opener
12/4/2019 5:09:00 PM | Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan volleyball team will play in the postseason for the second time in program history on Thursday (8 p.m.) when the Chippewas take on South Dakota in a National Invitational Volleyball Championship game at South Dakota's Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
The Chippewas received an invitation to their first NIVC after winning the Mid-American Conference West Division co-championship, their first divisional title since 2003. Their game against South Dakota is just the second in the postseason in program history. CMU played in the NCAA Tournament in 2007, falling to Illinois.
The Chippewas are 21-8, the most wins for a CMU team since 2007.
"We were fortunate enough to put together a resume that got us invited," fourth-year Chippewa coach Mike Gawlik said. "I think with our young group it is something that, not only will it be an opportunity to put a cap on this year, I think it will pave the way for success for our program for future years as well. We are excited about the opportunity."
Tournament Format
The CMU-South Dakota game is the second of an opening-night doubleheader. UNLV (19-10) and Kansas City (17-11) meet in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m. The winners are scheduled to play at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
Friday's winner advances to the tournament quarterfinals against the winner of the four-team pod hosted by Texas-Arlington.
Back at It
Two weeks ago, the Chippewas went into the eight-team MAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed and fell to third-seeded Bowling Green in straight sets on the Falcons' home court.
Scouting
The Coyotes went 16-0 to win the Summit League championship and earn the No. 1 seed in the league tournament. They were upset by fourth-seeded Omaha in four sets in their conference tourney opener.
South Dakota's only other loss came on Sept. 3, to Iowa State of the Big 12. The Cyclones are 17-11 and are in the NCAA Tournament.
Elizabeth Juhnke, a 6-foot freshman, leads the Coyotes with 426 kills and was named the Summit League Freshman of the Year. South Dakota's Anne Rasmussen earned the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second-consecutive season, and sophomore Madison Jurgens was named the league's Setter of the Year.
The Coyotes won 24 consecutive matches before falling to Omaha.
"They were right on the bubble of getting an NCAA at-large bid," Gawlik said. "We know that they're hungry, and we know that they play well in their own building.
"But I think that watching them on video and getting ready we can go toe-to-toe with them from a physicality standpoint. We're always excited to have an opportunity to go to battle. We're going to have to play pretty well."
The Chippewas
CMU is in the midst of its best season in more than a decade. Two weeks ago, Gawlik was named the MAC Coach of the Year and Kalina Smith and Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez earned First Team All-MAC honors.
Smith leads CMU with 357 kills, while Rosario-Martinez is second on the team with 258 and a team-high 34 aces. Chippewa setters Kendall Braate and Grace Butler have combined for 1,173 assists, while libero Megan Kern, the lone senior starter, has posted 550 digs.
The Chippewas received an invitation to their first NIVC after winning the Mid-American Conference West Division co-championship, their first divisional title since 2003. Their game against South Dakota is just the second in the postseason in program history. CMU played in the NCAA Tournament in 2007, falling to Illinois.
The Chippewas are 21-8, the most wins for a CMU team since 2007.
"We were fortunate enough to put together a resume that got us invited," fourth-year Chippewa coach Mike Gawlik said. "I think with our young group it is something that, not only will it be an opportunity to put a cap on this year, I think it will pave the way for success for our program for future years as well. We are excited about the opportunity."
Tournament Format
The CMU-South Dakota game is the second of an opening-night doubleheader. UNLV (19-10) and Kansas City (17-11) meet in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m. The winners are scheduled to play at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
Friday's winner advances to the tournament quarterfinals against the winner of the four-team pod hosted by Texas-Arlington.
Back at It
Two weeks ago, the Chippewas went into the eight-team MAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed and fell to third-seeded Bowling Green in straight sets on the Falcons' home court.
Scouting
The Coyotes went 16-0 to win the Summit League championship and earn the No. 1 seed in the league tournament. They were upset by fourth-seeded Omaha in four sets in their conference tourney opener.
South Dakota's only other loss came on Sept. 3, to Iowa State of the Big 12. The Cyclones are 17-11 and are in the NCAA Tournament.
Elizabeth Juhnke, a 6-foot freshman, leads the Coyotes with 426 kills and was named the Summit League Freshman of the Year. South Dakota's Anne Rasmussen earned the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second-consecutive season, and sophomore Madison Jurgens was named the league's Setter of the Year.
The Coyotes won 24 consecutive matches before falling to Omaha.
"They were right on the bubble of getting an NCAA at-large bid," Gawlik said. "We know that they're hungry, and we know that they play well in their own building.
"But I think that watching them on video and getting ready we can go toe-to-toe with them from a physicality standpoint. We're always excited to have an opportunity to go to battle. We're going to have to play pretty well."
The Chippewas
CMU is in the midst of its best season in more than a decade. Two weeks ago, Gawlik was named the MAC Coach of the Year and Kalina Smith and Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez earned First Team All-MAC honors.
Smith leads CMU with 357 kills, while Rosario-Martinez is second on the team with 258 and a team-high 34 aces. Chippewa setters Kendall Braate and Grace Butler have combined for 1,173 assists, while libero Megan Kern, the lone senior starter, has posted 550 digs.
Players Mentioned
Setter/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Libero
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
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